Former Playboy model Julia Orayen was the center of attention at the Mexican presidential debate on Sunday. Her 30-second appearance in a long white gown during the event caused the media and Twitter to go crazy.

LA Times reported that Orayen was "serving as an edecan, a role that has long been traditional to formal political, business, or entertainment events in Mexico. The edecan is a sort of hostess who stands during meetings or parties to help guide or coordinate guests." She appeared at the event in the tight white dress with a huge hole on the front which revealed her full cleavage. She was carrying an urn with bits of paper that determines which candidates will speak first.

Mexican foreign minister Jorge Castaneda tweeted: "The best was the girl in white with the cleavage at the beginning."

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Orayen told the Cadena Tres TV network that the choice of attire was hers. "It was my only choice for a long dress. I didn't think it would reveal as much or cause this much scandal."

However, Alfredo Figueroa, director of the Federal Electoral Institute responsible for organizing the debate blamed the incident on the production associates hired by Mexico's Electoral Commission. The later issued an apology, saying: "We are sorry about the production error associated with the clothing of one of the assistants during the first presidential debate and want to apologise to the citizens and the candidates for the presidency."

TV producer Jesus Tapia chose Orayen to assist but admitted he had not checked her dress "in the madness of the moment".

Orayen had previously posed nude for Playboy and appeared in other sources of media in very little clothing. So actually, she appeared pretty modest in Sunday's appearance.

Comments were left on her Facebook after her cameo appearance at the debate. "I bet if you run for President you'll win, I bet it," wrote one person [in Spanish].

Further comments include:

"Everybody would vote for you if you were a presidential candidate, thanks to the Federal Electoral Institute for making you known." "You made something boring be entertaining."